Mesa Consolidated Water District (Mesa Water) is located in a community that originated in about 1906. The first water system in the area was developed by the La Habra Valley Land and Water Company, which drilled the first well in 1910. In 1913 the Fairview Farms Mutual Water Company constructed a system for agricultural purposes and in 1918 the Newport Heights Irrigation District was formed to serve domestic and irrigation water. These two agencies acquired the facilities of the La Habra Water Company.

With continued growth in the early 1900s, the Newport Mesa Irrigation District and the Santa Ana Heights Water Company were created. Fairview Farms Mutual Water Company later became the Fairview County Water District; Newport Mesa Irrigation District became the Newport Mesa County Water District.

In 1953, the city of Costa Mesa became an incorporated city and in 1955, it created a municipal water system to serve the areas beyond the four existing district boundaries.

On June 30, 1959, the Governor of California signed Senate Bill 1375 (Costa Mesa District Merger Law), as introduced by Senator Murdy. On January 1, 1960, Mesa Water (formerly known as the Costa Mesa County Water District) commenced operations by acquiring the assets and obligations and assumed the responsibility of consolidating the city of Costa Mesa's Water Department, Fairview County Water District, Newport Heights Irrigation District, and Newport Mesa County Water District. The Santa Ana Heights Water Company was originally involved in merger discussions, but withdrew before consolidation.

Mesa Water set a precedent with this merger as the first California water agency to consolidate two or more water agencies and assume both their assets and debts.

Mesa Water is governed by a five-member Board of Directors. The service area is divided into five divisions. One individual from each division is publicly elected to serve a four-year term as a Director.

Mesa Water serves more than 110,000 people in an 18-square mile area including the City of Costa Mesa, parts of Newport Beach, sections of unincorporated Orange County including the John Wayne Airport.

Mesa Water has been distributing a combination of imported water and local groundwater. Imported water had consisted of water received from the Colorado River until 1972, when Mesa Water also began receiving water from Northern California, via the California Aqueduct. Mesa Water's wholesale water supplier is the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), who purchases imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Currently, 75 percent of Mesa Water's water supply is derived from groundwater from local wells; the other 25 percent is imported water.

A variety of system improvements have been made since Mesa Water's consolidation in 1960. Mesa Water drilled additional wells to maximize local water resources, added two water storage reservoirs with the total capacity of more than 28 million gallons, implemented a mainline replacement program, and organized the separate water districts' systems into a more flexible loop system.

Additionally, Mesa Water encourages commercial and industrial customers to use reclaimed water for greenbelt areas. Using reclaimed water for irrigation purposes saves potable, or drinkable, water for other uses.

Mesa Water is in the forefront of colored water treatment. Colored water is a high quality local resource found in deep aquifers of the Orange County Groundwater Basin. It is the color of weak tea and has a sulfur odor. The color and odor are removed using ozone and chlorine which is used for disinfecting.

Mesa Water customers are charged a Basic Charge depending on the size of the meter. The average single-family home has a 5/8" meter, with a Basic Charge of $9.00 per month.

In addition to the Basic Charge, customers are charged a Usage Charge for every unit of water used. A unit of water is equivalent to 100 cubic feet or 748 gallons.

Mesa Water is totally reliant on rates for the operations and maintenance of the District. Mesa Water does not receive money from property taxes.

Mesa Water customers are billed bi-monthly. Your bill provides valuable information including the billing and due date, the billing period and the amount of water used. The bill also contains a message from Mesa Water about upcoming programs or water use tips.

Your water bill is due upon receipt and becomes past due 25 days after the date of billing. Failure to pay in a timely manner may result in disconnection of water service. To resume service, a deposit and a reconnection fee may be charged.

Mesa Water accepts electronic bill payment. Please call the Customer Service Department at 949/631-1200 for information.

If you have questions about your bill or the services provided by Mesa Water, the Customer Service Department will assist you weekdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Payment drop boxes are located at the Costa Mesa Senior Center at 695 West 19th Street and at Mesa Water's headquarters at 1965 Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa.

All water produced and delivered by Mesa Water meets or surpasses standards for public drinking water established by the State Health Department and the Environmental Protection Agency. Such standards are stricter than those set for any other thing we eat or drink.

Thousands of samples are collected each year at reservoirs and point-of-use locations. The samples are then tested in State certified laboratories. State-of-the-art technology detects constituents in the water at parts per billion and, in some instances, parts per trillion. A water quality report is mailed to customers annually.

No additional treatment to your tap water is necessary. If you choose to use a point-of-use treatment system, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions so the quality of your water supply is not adversely affected.

Mesa Water is committed to protecting the health of their customers by providing safe, reliable, high-quality water.

Conservation is a priority at Mesa Water. We regularly implement programs for leak detection, water meter testing and replacement, residential conservation surveys, and pump efficiency.

At your home or business, a single leak, no larger than a pinhole, can cause 120 gallons of water to be wasted per day. A running toilet wastes a considerable amount of water. If water use increases without reason, there may be a leak. To check, turn off all water-using devices and observe your meter. If water use continues to be recorded, there is a leak.

The use of low-flow showerheads allows customers to enjoy a full force shower while saving water. Compared to less efficient toilet models using five to seven gallons per flush, ultra-low-flush toilets at 1.6 gallons per flush show significant water savings.

Public information programs play an important role in water use at Mesa Water. Mesa Water participates in water education programs and sponsors school projects. Gardens with low-water use landscape plantings are available for public viewing. High bill & conservation water audits are also available. Mesa Water employees work with local cities and communities to create water policies, which promote water conservation.

You can help us preserve this precious resource by practicing wise water use both inside and outside your home or business. Free water conservation information can be obtained in our office or mailed to you. It is up to us all to use water wisely.

If you understand the language of your water meter, it can tell you a great deal about water usage in your household. For instance, it can indicate if you have a leak. You can even find out how much water your household appliances require.

Most meters are located in a concrete box near the front curb. The water meter records in cubic feet.

To read a straight reading meter on a weekly or monthly basis, read each digit as you would the mileage indicator in your car. Disregard the last two numbers. These measure in units smaller than hundred cubic feet.